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Assumed new Detroit Lions head coach, Matt Patricia, who is a big fan of the 3-4 defense, and currently runs the system for the New England Patriots. Patricia has had very good results with it. So the question that must be asked is, will he switch the Lions (currently 4-3 defensive scheme) to a 3-4 scheme?

Do the Lions currently have the personnel to make such a switch? In a 3-4, the defense is arranged with a front row of two defensive ends and a nose tackle.

The second line consists of four linebackers that have the ability to move up to the line of scrimmage as needed.

Two cornerbacks as well as two safeties.

There is an issue on the Lions defensive depth chart. They need more beef on the first line. Here’s a sample:

Ezekiel Ansah, DE 6’ 5”, 275 lbs.

A’Shawn Robinson, DE 6’ 4”, 322 lbs.

Jeremiah Ledbetter DT, 6’ 3”, 298 lbs.

Christian Ringo DT, 6’ 1”, 298 lbs.

Akeem Spence DT 6’ 1”, 307 lbs.

Anthony Zettle 6’ 4”, 270 lbs.

I can make a case that currently A’Shawn Robinson and Akeem Spence could play on a 3-4 scheme. With an outside chance of Ezekiel Ansah, if he can consistently rush the passer and stay healthy.

Big linemen are much preferred because they need to fill the gaps. The bigger the player the more gap they fill. I’m not going to worry about the linebackers right now. The defensive line needs fixed first. They secondary is a solid group.

The reason the New England Patriots run the 3-4 so well is they have beef up front. Here’s a sample:

Alan Branch DT, 6’ 6”, 350 lbs.

Malcom Brown DT, 6’ 2”, 320 lbs.

Adam Butler DT, 6’ 4”, 300 lbs.

Trey Flowers DE, 6’ 2”, 265 lbs.

Lawrence Guy DE, 6’ 4”, 305 lbs.

Ricky Jean Francois DT, 6’ 33”, 313 lbs.

The Patriots have the size up front to roll with the scheme.

The good news for the Lions is they have roughly $50 million in cap space. That will help be because it seems highly probable Patricia will want to stick to what he knows and is good at. Which means the Lions would make the switch.

Will there be learning difficulties? Absolutely. No way to sugar coat it. But in the not to distant future, given draft and free agent success, they’ll be a good unit.

So many ifs, ands, or buts. That’s part of the excitement of a new head coach and a GM (Bob Quinn) who actually seem to know what they are doing.

Tanking in sports is an incredibly fascinating subject. It’s gone on for well quite a while. Why?

Well (and that is a deep subject) there are various reasons this takes place:

1. The team has an aging roster and see top picks as a quick fix.
2. A teams payroll is out of control and it’s a way to get it under wraps.
3. The team is really that bad with no chance of winning so they implement tanking with eyes on the future.
Agents hate it. With a passion. They claim it slows down the free agent market and teams would rather gather draft picks and young prospects for their farm teams.
As a fan of the rebuilding Detroit Tigers I have no problem with the team if the MLB draft is stacked with good talent.
The fact that the Tigers owner Chris Ilitch has poured money into analytics and upgrading all the minor league facilities shows the switching of a mind set. Instead of winning now as his late father Mike Ilitch aimed for. The younger Ilitch has an eye on the future and prolonged winning.
So to the Tigers I say “as long as the scouting is spot on. Tank away. Lose now, win later and for a prolonged period of time.”

While the baseball season is about to kick off with winter caravans and spring training. The thought of a bad bordering on hideous Tigers season leaves fans wondering what’s the point?
Fair question. Let’s start with the fact the Tigers must see what’s in the minors as far talent.
At some point or points during the season Tigers fans can expect to see Beau Burrows, Christian Stewart, Gregory Soto (who I’m very high on) and perhaps Dawel Lugo get a look with the parent club.
Not to mention fans will want to see if Nicholas Castellanos (baring a trade) can continue to improve his bat skills. Not to mention if they don’t trade him what can a fully healthy Michael Fulmer give you.
GM Al Avila,said he believes the arms in the minors will “bring a championship to Detroit in the very near future.” Bold words. Dangerous words if he and the Tigers don’t deliver. The future begins in earnest this season.

I and Tigers fans will be keeping a close eye on the Tigers farm system. It should be fun!

The New England Patriots are yet again in the Super Bowl. Big shock for sure. Why are they so successful? What is the secret of “the Patriot way?”

For starters the Patriots draft extremely well. They get more out of lower draft picks than some teams get out of their top picks.

What seems to be the real key is unless your name is Tom Brady, and perhaps a left tackle,you will not be on the roster much past your rookie contract.

Want proof? The 40 year old Brady has thrown touchdown passes to 50 different receivers in his career. Let that sink in. That’s not even the tight ends and running backs who he’s shared the field with.

So to review. Draft well. Get the best years (first 5) out of a player and when they are ready for a pay raise cut bait and move on. The Patriots have made this an art form.

This should interest Detroit Lions fans as former Patriots front office employee Bob Quinn is the GM and is bringing that philosophy to the Lions.

Time will tell if they get it right. Time will also tell if Matt Stafford is the Lions version of Tom Brady who can stand behind any linemen and throw to any wide receiver.

The only thing left is to cross the T’s and dot the I’s. It’s clear the Detroit Lions have found their next head coach in New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia.

That is a first. The Lions have actually identified the new coach. I’ve seen other teams bring in new coaches over the years with ease. All the while watching through the green eyes of envy hoping and wishing the Lions would do the same.

Patricia comes to the Lions highly esteemed. For very good reason. Simply put he’s the best defensive minds in the game.

Now it gets interesting. Whenever the Patriots season ends. Patricia will have to assemble a coaching staff. He is rumored to be keeping offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter and quarterbacks coach Brian Callahan holdovers from the fired Jim Caldwell’s old staff and both favorites of Lions QB Matthew Stafford. Not that it matters who a player likes. The coach gets the final say on his staff.

If those two coaches are indeed brought back the focus will shift to the defense. For good reason. Four, count them four, Pro Bowl players on that unit that had trouble stopping the run and was killed by short passes over the middle of the field.

Patricia a defensive wiz will in all likelihood oversee this unit. What is critical is who He tab’s as the coach to run the defensive squad. From linebacker coach, secondary coach, and others. It may be safe to say he will bring a coach he’s worked with in New England. Coaches tend to run in tight groups.

Whoever is the new face of the defense he will walk into a job with some talent on that side of the ball. That has to be somewhat enticing for a coach.

For me this is a big a hire as the head coach itself.

While the Red Wings and Tigers are in full rebuild mode. The Pistons struggling to find consistency and the Lions searching for a new head coach let’s take a look at who can possibly raise a championship banner.

The Pistons: the verdict is still out wether this core group of players can find cohesiveness and achieve the level of consistency needed to make a deep playoff run. In fact the first goal should be to get to the playoffs.

The Red Wings: well documented rebuild (even if Ken Holland hates the word) the Wings are every bit of 3-5 years away from being a serious Stanley Cup contender. There are some good young players to keep an eye on.

The Tigers: yikes it’s going to be a mess at Comerica Park for the next few seasons. But there are solid arms and a few bats. But the immediate future is bleak.

The Lions: could it be the Lions of all Detroit teams have the best shot at a title?
Yes. Bob Quinn has masterfully reshuffled the roster and he is expected to focus on the defense this offseason.

If the team lands Matt Patricia (as expected) this team will be a serious contender. Following the Lions starting in 1980 I’ve never even dreamed of them in position to win the Super Bowl. But they are incredibly close.

Championships not withstanding I will continue my loyalty to all of the Detroit teams documenting all of it. The good, the bad, the putrid.

It’s an unusual position for the Detroit Tigers to be in. For much of the past decade they were adding trying to win a World Series.

Now the rebuild is in full swing and thanks to the worst record the Tigers own the first pick in the 2018 MLB draft.

An organization that loves big strong power arms one guy stands out. University of Florida RHP Brady Singer. He fits the criteria (Singer is 6′ 5″) the Tigers covet he had 129 strikeout in 126 innings pitched. Viewed as a pitcher who will not be in the minor leagues long may help the Tigers front office make the pick a no brainer.

Drafted in the second round by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2015 Singer opted to go to college. As it turns out it was the correct call. He polished up his mechanics and brushed up his slider that has scouts drooling.

He was part of a Gators rotation that was downright nasty. Paired with last years Tigers first round pick (Also from Florida)  Alex Faedo. If reunited with the Tigers the Detroit rebuild would speed up considerably.

A future rotation of

Perez
Manning
Singer
Burrows
Faedo

May be too much for the Tigers to pass up. As they would be staring at 5 potential top of the rotation starters.

Be patient Tigers fans. They are building something that could very well end up being special.

The Detroit Lions are reportedly going to name New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia head coach. After the Patriots finish their season either in the AFC title game or Super Bowl.

Given his success with next to no Pro Bowl players Patricia may look attractive to the Lions who have had a handful of Pro Bowl players not to mention his defense is consistently in the top 5 in the NFL.

He’s been with the Patriots for 12 seasons 6 of them as the leader of the defense. Lions GM Bob Quinn who was with the Patriots organization for 12 years is familiar with Patricia so I’m sure he feels like this is a safe solid hire.

Yet, no matter a coaches background and success it’s a crap shoot if that actually translates when sliding into the role of head coach.
While being regarded as a good/great defensive coordinator and being in the much looked up to Patriots organization are definitely pluses. There is the unknown element.
So with that the Lions will roll the dice and hope they strike it big.

“I’m not paid to be a role model” that was the phrase Charles Barkley famously spoke in 1993.
With that said is that accurate? Someone who makes their living on t.v. and in the public eye are they not role models?
For centuries athletes of all sports have been put on pedestals and admired. There are even “who would be on the Mount Rushmore of this or that team” blogs and polls.
Athletes are by and large entertainers. Making millions while generating billions for franchise owners and cities.
But in truth they are self serving beings who are out for their next big payday.
Don’t get me wrong. There are some genuinely good people. But selfishness and self seeking is not admirable in any fashion.
There have been athletes I have admired about how they approach their sport. Or how they lead their team. That’s where it ends.
Athletes are not role models. At the end of the day they could care less if you like them or not or collect their trading cards or own their jersey.
With that said focus instead on the team as a whole. Enjoy what a player brings to the field, rink, or court.
You may find you enjoy the game a little more. I know I have. At the end of the day players come and go. Lions GM Bob Quinn said just last week each season has a 30% roster changeover. That’s a high rate. Don’t get attached to an athlete. Get attached to the team that represents your city, state, or some other reason.